If you’ve read for a long time you probably know fitness is a big part of my life.

A year ago, the thought of not regularly attending a gym would have caused immediate hyperventilation and hives.

You would’ve needed to break out the big guns to resuscitate me.

Like waving a big fat stack of pancakes or a frosted chocolate brownies under my nose.

...

Sorry.

Veering.

Back to quitting the gym.

I did it.

I quit the gym cold turkey.

Let me tell you why and what I’m doing to stay healthy.

Oh- and before I begin I should tell you I’m NOT selling you anything. I’m NOT in any way affiliated with what I’m using now or anything like that. I’m just a satisfied customer that has benefited from the content they provide.

Moving on-

For the last few years I’ve only be going to the gym once a week. .

The rest of the week, I’d do at-home workouts.

They varied between my own manifestations (Yes. Manifestations. 😂) or YouTube workouts.

Regardless, I found I was able to maintain my desired level of fitness using these tools.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved my gym days. It allowed me the opportunity to lift heavier weights, have access to a big mirror to make sure my form was on point, plus access to lots of equipment like benches, barbells machines, etc. I don’t have a home.

However, when I looked at my yearly investment against my yearly visit total, it wasn’t a good return.

Adding in another onsite session wasn’t going to work with my current schedule, so I had to give some serious thought about what was important to me.

I decided being healthy and staying fit was important to me.

Yes, I realize that sounds like a no brainer, but hear me out.

Would I love to be stronger, or be able to finally shoulder press 40 lbs, or master my squat?

Yes.

However, if I could achieve the same physique without it (though achieved differently) and have a workout regimen that fit my life right now, that’s what I decided was most important.

Around the time I was kicking around what to do with my membership, my blogger friend Erin invited people to give Beachbody on Demand a try.

I was able to do a free 14 day trial and joined a 7 day workout group with her and some of her friends and family.

I already knew about “BOD,” as they call it, and was very interested. I thought this was the perfect time to give it a shot!

I did, and there was no going back.

Long story short, my free trial was enough to convince me I was ok relinquishing my gym membership.

The one I hardly attended anyway.

So yeah! I broke-up with the gym and am saving about $450 a year because of it!

I wanted to share all this because we’re nearing the end of the year and people will soon begin thinking about possible 2018 health goals. BOD is a fantastic gift to give someone or yourself this year for so many, many reasons!

Now that I’ve been using BOD for 6 months I definitely feel like I can share some pros and cons of it versus a gym membership. I thought it might be helpful for others interested in doing the same thing!

2. If you’re a social butterfly, you might miss the human interaction a gym membership offers.

3. While this isn’t necessarily a “must” depending on which workouts you choose, you’re most likely going to have some upfront costs getting your workout space setup.

I had to buy some extra dumbbells. While I’d love to add to my “home gym” (read: my living room), it just isn’t really realistic in our current space. Therefore, I make what I have work.

4. Speaking of space- you’re going to need it.
I’ve found a small little area does the trick, so while this is listed as a “con,” I’d be hard pressed to find someone that doesn’t have a tiny square in their living room that would work.

5. Instruction
That’s definitely one element BOD lacks. Sure, a person on TV can tell you how to do a difficult exercise, but if you’re a novice and have no idea what you’re doing, you can risk injury. I’d say this is probably one of the biggest cons.

With that said, I suppose it can happen anywhere, but it just seems riskier streaming a workout versus doing one at the gym with mirrors and access to helpful staff.

6. Possible strength loss
Possible.

It really depends on your goals and at-home equipment. If you’re squatting mad weight and have access to a barbell at home- disregard.

However, for the rest of us, there’s a possibility of losing some of the strength we attained at the gym.

For example, my workouts are completely different now. While I do strength training multiple times a week with weights, I’m no longer working isolated muscle groups each time, increasing to super heavy weight, using machines/equipment, etc.

My workouts are more functional to what I have on hand. While I definitely can no longer leg press 315lbs, I find I’m fitter and have greater endurance.

It’s really about your goals.

So yeah- that’s a possible con to consider.

So let’s talk pros!!

Pros of BOD1. As long as you have an internet connection, you can workout anytime or anywhere.

Midnight? Check. Christmas? Check.

Yep. No more waiting for the gym to open or wishing they had more convenient hours. I love this perk!

2. Come as you are

I’ve made my excessive man-sweat abundantly clear over the years. I can’t tell you how much time I’ve saved not getting ready to workout compared to when I went to the gym.

Granted, I didn’t get all that ready when I went to the gym either, but now? I can workout in whatever I want and it doesn’t matter one iota. Man sweat and all.

3. Not having to deal with sweaty people who don’t wipe off their equipment

I’m now the only “sweaty people,” and I don’t own any equipment. Problem solved. Haha

4. No dealing with meatheads, inappropriate gawkers, sweat flingners, people who hoard equipment, people who sit on weight benches and check their phones whilst others impatiently wait nearby to use said bench

Should I go on?

Basically- you don’t have to deal with people.

5. But if you wanted to!

Deal with people, that is…

I’ve found there’s a great community on BOD. I don’t participate in it, but if one wanted to, there’s plenty of ways to get involved. From boards and forums, to organized workout sessions, and Facebook workout groups- there’s as much (or as little) interaction as you want!

6. Cost
The cost is kind of ridiculous. For one year, I paid about $175, which also included a couple guides and cookbooks, food portion containers, and a month of Shakeology (but I ended up cancelling my Shakeology subscription).

If you didn’t want to do all that, you could pay $100 for a one year subscription, which is what I’ll do next year. They even have shorter duration/cheaper options so you can test it out for 3 or 6 months.

There’s something for every fitness level and interest- and they’re always adding more!!

From P90X, to 21 Day Extreme, PiYo, and everything in between…

I love all the options. It makes staying on track so so easy. I can do high impact HIIT workout and match it with a low impact cardio session. I can do weights and then find a quick 20 minute stretch afterward. The options kind of feel endless.

I LOVE the versatility. There’s honestly something for everybody. Or everyBODy (see what I did there?).

It’s a program to follow with all the workout guides associated with whatever program you choose AND the nutrition plan. They include those details, too.

Real life.

8. Goals Achieved

Y’all, I’ve done more pushups in these last 6 months than ever before! While I’ve lost strength, I’ve gained a ton of endurance, agility, and am so much better at functional movements.

I am such a better “athlete.” My core is nice and tight because of all the different challenging workouts I’m doing and switching it up (um, but no popping “abs” because I love junk food too much 🍪 😂).

Will even commented on me being “firmer” the other day. 😂

Y’all- this thing is the real deal and such a good gift to give yourself or others.

So yeah! I broke up with the gym, and as you can see, I’m not too sad about it.

If you guys want to do a 14 day trial in January let me know and maybe we can get a Facebook group together or something.

Like I said, I’m not a coach and I’m not sure how it would all work, but it might be fun to have some accountability in the new year! Plus maybe after reading this little commercial I ought to become one? Haha

Let’s start with the MOHs stuff
I got my stitches out a few days after my last post.

I continue to heal. My nose is super red and will be for a few more months probably, but I’m thankful it’s all done and behind me.

Moral of the story? Wear sunscreen!

Chances are, lots of damage is already done from our younger years, and it’s all the more reason to take care of ourselves now!

I already see a couple more spots I’m going to have checked at my next appointment. 😳🙏🏻
Now for some fun and exciting stuff
P and her beau set a date and are getting hitched in November.

They went from planning a stressful and large soirée to a much quieter, simpler wedding. I love they went this route and will be honored to be among the small group of people they entrust with this sacred moment.

As a side note, how is my sister old enough to be married!?

I’m sure I’ll share all sorts of beautiful pictures, stories, and such in the coming months.

Oh and PS- Layla started preschool last week! I can’t believe she’s already old enough to be going to preschool! Not gonna lie, I got misty eyed.

Now onto the important stuff
All things college football.

Last Wednesday kicked off football season. It’s like an official holiday in our house.

We flipped back and forth between games soaking up every tackle, touchdown, and catch.

Our beloved Sooners took the field Saturday, and as usual, I nearly melted into a giant puddle from the intense heat.

We had a fairly mild August, but just my luck, temps went back to normal as football season started.

WHY DO YOU HATE ME!?

Nonetheless I’m excited about a new year and fresh start. I’m not picking us to take it all, or probably even win the big 12, but I think we’ll be much improved a serious contender.

My boot camp & a bible study

Guys, God has blessed me so much with this boot camp bible study thing. I can’t even take it!

I started out with just one person attending- ME.

Just a couple weeks later I was up to two, then three, with two more committed for our next session.

Considering we meet Saturday at the crack of dawn, I’m encouraged.

I gave it totally to God when I started in July and continue to let Him do whatever he desires.

Our workouts have been fantastic, the Christian playlists I’ve put together are ridiculous (in the best way possible), and our conversation has been blessed.

God is good! I sure wish you gals could join us.

A stroll down memory lane

For some strange reason, Will and I decided to stick in an old Frasier box set in while I was at home after surgery.

Here we are a month later and are already nearly halfway done with season 2.

It’s been fun and I felt I ought to remember it on her blog.
Other random things I feel you should know

We visited Will’s parents last weekend along with my BIL and SIL. It was fun. We went bowling and I broke my average 35ish range.

Serious stuff here, ya’ll.

(I’m BB- still the lowest score but far better than my usual)

As for other things, I did a mini balyage treatment on my hair last week. I wanted to go back to my natural color thinking it was going to be a fairly dark blonde.

Turns out I was completely wrong!

I’ve highlighted half my head for years and never really paid attention to the underneath color. It always looked dark to me because the highlights were always so light.

Anyway, turns out I’m naturally way blonder than I thought (an 8 on a scale of 10), which explains a lot.

Such as why, upon realizing we were out of dish tablets, I put a tablespoon of ivory dish soap in the dishwasher, hit start, and let it run the entire cycle.

Let’s just say there were bubbles everywhere.

Everywhere.

Or why I threw Lucy’s much needed medication in the trash not realizing there were still several days worth of medicine still in the packet.

Resulting in a dumpster dive situation.

Genius.

Things like that.

All.the.time.

So yeah, turns out I’m not blonder than I pay to be. I’m actually really that blonde. Ha!

Important Blog Stuff I Need to Unpack
On a more serious note, I’m kind of unsure what to do with this space, guys.

It’s old, dated, clunky and I have no idea how to fix any of it on my own.

Not only that, but I kind of feel like this space is slightly schizophrenic.

It’s worked well for a decade, housing all my silly stories and experiences as a 20 something newlywed. However, now I’m not so sure.

I feel the few of you who still visit should be able to count on some sort of structured content each day, which I feel I’ve done a great job of keeping up with over the last few years.

However I can’t help but feeling the Lord moving me in a different direction, which is one of the reasons I’ve been posting less frequently.

I feel there’s so much pressure for everyone to have some sort of online presence, or following, or persona.

I completely see the value of online media and have so enjoyed keeping up with my friends that way.

However in this current season of life I’m prompted to pull back more. To take the focus off myself and to put it on Jesus.

I’m struggling to find balance between posting what I had for lunch and sharing why I feel the Church needs to refocus our affections on our one true Love.

I’m struggling because this blog was created by me, for me, and doesn’t feel like it belongs to Him.

Sometimes it doesn’t feel right posting here anymore.

So I’ve been sitting quietly.

I’ve toyed with the idea of starting fresh and creating an entirely new space, but it feels daunting.

I’ve thought about paying for a makeover of the current space, but I’m not sold on that either for the above reasons.

So yeah, I have no idea what direction this little site is going.

I find it important to chronicle some of our goings on, as I’ve valued being able to capture memories over the years, but I’m not sure this space is the right space to cover heavy topics on my heart right now.

You’ve got my Wednesday workout right next to a post on eschatology. It seems a little incongruent.

Am I making sense?

It took me over 30 years but I finally get that this life is so much more and so much better when it’s surrendered to Christ.

That’s how our life should be, but somewhere between the garden of Eden and today we decided we could do things better on our own.

I don’t want to do things on my own anymore.

And He’s taking me up on the offer of my surrendered heart.

It’s glorious, but sometimes it hurts a little too.

But it’s worth it.

I want to share so much of it with you, but right now I’m taking a step back to see what exactly that looks like.

I had no intention of pouring this all before you, but since I’m on a roll I thought I better share.

I’m not breaking up with my blog, but I do think there will be some changes.

Perhaps I start a separate site with more frequent devotional type posts while still maintaining this old dinosaur for capturing updates and life stuff.

We shall see.

Until then, look for update type posts like this one (minus the whole giant book I wrote about the blog 😃) and devotional type posts.

I began to think this whole unfolding was God’s “gentle” way of bringing Will back to the ministry, but we honestly have no idea.

So we wait on the Lord and take the next step He illuminates.

Despite the unknown, God has given me peace and assurance that my waiting
has a purpose

I continue to live and walk in Him day by day.

The unexpected blessings that have arrived in our bank account, the continued reminders to trust and wait on the Lord in my daily readings, and the peace that surpasses all understanding. These things give me rest.

Sometimes you just need to rest.

Rest in the Lord.

We decided Will would take the summer off so we could catch our breath.

It’s been a bumpy start to the year, and we thought it would be good to regroup.

We didn’t just want to jump right into something else without truly seeking God and figuring out the next step.

Because honestly? We still don’t know.

The world tells us we need a five year plan. That we should know exactly what comes next and have a clear cut plan for execution.

While Proverbs certainly offers wisdom regarding preparedness, we also know we walk by faith and not by sight.

We can plan until we’re blue in the face, but sometimes God has a different plan.

God is up to something and wants to work in and through us if we allow Him.

That means surrender.

A word we don’t often like to use.

Sometimes that means our five year plans of grandeur get tossed altogether.

As Christians, we live differently than everyone else because we serve a God like none other.

It’s scary sometimes.

Because we can’t see what’s next.

But we walk by faith, and not by sight.

So, instead of Will just finding any old job immediately, we just decided to wait this summer and pray for direction.

I would be lying if I told you there were days I wasn’t frustrated, or unsure, or completely exhausted by the waiting.

I feel that way sometimes.

There are no neon signs on the road we’re walking.

No bread crumbs to lead us home.

It’s us, and it’s God.

I often remind myself of the words He spoke to my heart last summer. “Do you trust Me?”

It seems logical to want to say no. It seems logical to flail my arms and scream that we have no idea what to do next.

Yet, we trust.

The spirit in me has yielded to God, and while I don’t know what our five year plan holds, I trust.

We put one foot in front of the other and let Him guide and lead.

We know the next step, that’s it.

I am preparing to launch my women’s Bible study.

Will and I are praying about a location to hold a Bible study for men and women.

It’s the natural next step, and how the Spirit has led our hearts during this time of uncertainty.

We’ll take the summer off, and we’ll trust Him with Will’s job hunt just like we have every other step of this process.

Despite the craziness, things have actually gotten simpler:

I exist to know Christ.

To know Him deeply. To love Him fiercely. To serve Him wholeheartedly.

This life?

It’s not about me.

Something I knew, but only lived out when it was comfortable to do so.

Five year plans are great, but life really comes down to one question- do you know Christ? Do you really know Him in the core of your whole being? What have you done with this Good News?

While I want to be able to live with some semblance of a plan as we work through this process, this experience has reminded me of my true purpose-

To know the fullness of Christ and the power of His resurrection.

I am left only to respond with my entire heart.

Anything, Lord Jesus.

Anything you want me to do, anywhere you want me to go, anything you want me to say.

Anything Lord.

This year hasn’t gone as planned, but we’re here, and we’re trusting, and we’re finally starting to get it.

We are made for You.

May it be on the forefront of our minds.

So what’s next for our family?

I don’t know.

But I know it’s not about me, and the pressure’s off in finally grasping that reality.

I appreciate your prayers as we start Will’s job hunt, as well as whatever else is in store.

Something that combines two things near to my heart- Jesus and workouts.

Jesus is my life and passion, and fitness is a giant earthly love I enjoy so very much.

It may seem weird to combine the two, but it’s not as big of a stretch as you’d think.

When you stop and think about God giving us this life and wanting us to honor Him with our temples, it’s easy to see how we can worship Him by taking care of our bodies.

It’s also not a stretch to see God leading me on this direction. Theee things are sort of my jam. They’re where I’m in my element.

I’ve been creating meal plans and workouts for friends for years, and continually get asked for advice workout tips.

Over a year ago, I did Jennie Allen’s Restless study. In a nutshell, the book talks about using your passions and the things He’s wired you for to serve Christ.

I felt a stir in my heart, but struggled to believe He’d ever truly open that door for me.

Small faith, big fears.

Fast forward to today, and I’m preparing finishing touches on launching my boot camp and a Bible study! A short Bible study and prayer time followed by a quick high powered workout.

He is so good to me, I cant even take it sometimes!

Today I wanted to share a few practical tips for anyone interested in putting their fitness passion into practice in a similar forum.

And by that, I mean a (somewhat) organized fitness event.

There’s a few things to consider, so let’s get moving!

Waive hello to all your friends
Sorry, stupid joke.

But seriously- you need to get a waiver form together and have any attendee sign it. This protects you from lots of things, like lawsuits.

There are tons of helpful jargon waiver tips on legal sites online, and some are even free.

Protect yourself. Do a waiver form.

Location, location, location
Find a good spot to meet, and stick with it.

Make sure you’re easy to find! If people can’t find you, chances are they’re not going to come looking.

A lot of people aren’t in love with fitness like some of us. If you’re not visible, they’re getting back in their car and driving home!

Timing is everything

Pick a time and be consistent.

You probably know the people attending and will have a good idea whether they’ll be there bright eyed and on time or not.

Not everyone wants to workout at 4am.

I’m kind of in unknown territory right now because I don’t have a core group. I picked a time I think is attainable, but am going to be willing to flex 30 minutes after the first couple of times when I can get a better idea of attendance.

Also- make sure you call your local community government office to see if you need to have a permit.

A lot of places now require you to have a permit for organized events. It basically tells people, “Hey! I’m allowed to be here!”

Make sure you find out if you need one, and take the steps to get one if you do.

While we’re talking governance...
Make sure you investigate community laws when it comes to public nuisance and loud music.

Not kidding.

It only takes one call to mess up your perfect boot camp location.

Do your homework and know your rights.

Also?

Use sound judgement and be a good neighbor.

Obviously you don’t need to read bylaws to know it’s rude to host a boot camp in your back yard at 5:00 in the morning with music blaring for all the world to hear.

Since we’re talking music...
It’s kind of a huge deal.

Invest in some decent outdoor speakers (if you’ll be outdoors). They’re surprisingly cheap and should last a long time.

Keep things fresh with a few different playlists and always be on the lookout for songs to add.

I’ve talked about music till I’m blue in the face on this blog. I’ve got a mile long list of fantastic Christian remixes to keep things moving the entire workout. I can’t wait!

Don’t forget to modify!
My dream is to have women from all walks of life join me in this journey.

It’s about glorifying God with healthy bodies, foremost. Not how many burpees we can do.

Be willing to modify exercises for people with different fitness needs and levels. Some knees are older than others!

So yeah. That’s what’s going on these days. I am really excited to see what God does with my surrendered heart to this calling.

I sure wish you ladies could come work out with me! We would have such a good time.

I, however, decide to scramble together a thoughtful (thoughtful? Ha! Who are we kidding?) post simply because

I HAVE TO POST ON TUESDAY.

Which is hilarious.

I crack myself up.

You know, pretty much 99% of my posts back I’m the early days were based on absolutely nothing. I’d sit in front of the computer with nothing to say and manage to cover newlywed antics we all could relate to.

And side note, do any of us sit in front of the computer to post anymore? I sit in front of a computer all.day.long. at work, but all my blog and “fun” stuff is done on my phone or iPad.

Hence all the weird autocorrects or typos I never catch until after I publish.

Sorry about that.

Want to know something that makes me feel super old?

When Will and I were first married (and dirt poor), we didn’t have our own computer.

I was still in school, so I had to do all my homework and papers at my parent’s house or the school library.

Do people even go to the library to use the computers anymore?

I have no idea.

Since we’re talking tech stuff and feeling old, I also remember the first text message I ever got in my life.

Yes, there was a time when texts didn’t exist, kids.

I was sitting in class and Will sent me one. I don’t even remember what it said. All I can remember was staring at the screen- the black Nokia screen that everyone had back in 2003-thinking “What in the what is this?! It’s like an email message on my phone… From my fiancé!” 😂

Dying.

So yeah, who says I don’t have anything meaningful to share today?! We just discussed technology at the turn of the century.

Brilliant.

Do you guys like these random-y posts? I often have. I idea what to share on Tuesdays, and if you have any ideas, I’m all ears!

Some I wondered why I even kept, some made me laugh (like my Super Nintendo), and still others made me incredibly reminiscent.

The reminiscent stuff is what I want to talk about today.

Do you have some time and some coffee?

Go get some and come back.

***

We found lots of “treasures,” but a few stand out:

A giant picture frame someone gave us, full of pictures of us with youth at the church where we served,

A couple pictures that used to hang in my bedroom before I got married,

And a journal I wrote in my first few months in Kuwait.

All are distinctive, yet united under the same feelings evoked when I saw them.

Depending on how long you’ve read my blog, you may not know that Will was a youth minister when I met him.

Here we are serving as camp counselors together way back in 2003!

It was perfect. I surrendered my life to ministry as a youth, and our marriage and ability to help serve alongside Will at our church was a dream come true.

Only, no one ever really told us just how difficult our time there would be.

It didn’t come easy like the places where we were before.

The youth were so very different than we were used to. No more squeaky clean preppy kids with parents who were involved.

Every week Will would drive the church bus to pick up almost every single one of those kids in some of the worst neighborhoods in town.

Only a few had parents that went to church, and only a couple helped out.

The biggest struggle was that the church was wrought in pain from the past. There was much division, and the church had never really recovered.

A few months into Will’s service, the pastor was asked to leave, and we faced so many new challenges.

Talk about a heavy load for two kids in their early 20s.

It was hard, and Will hated it. It wasn’t exactly the dream I envisioned.

Then the chance to go to Kuwait surfaced.

What initially seemed like something so outlandish, became an attractive opportunity.

We prayed about it and it seemed like everything lined up to go, and so we went. (Perhaps this will be a future post?)

If you read the archives from waaaay back in 2005, you’ll see lots of adjustments to the new life.

I didn’t work for my first four months there, which felt like torture at the time but in hindsight was such a huge blessing.

It gave me time alone with God. To seek Him and draw close to Him.

When I look back on my journal, I could still see a lot of immaturity and want to tell myself, “Oh Brittny, if you could only see how God was doing a work!” However, I also saw growth and my desire to really pursue a relationship with Jesus. I had loved Him all my life.

When I looked at people seemingly very close to God who had fallen away, I could never understand it.

How could you be so close to God, and so deeply pursuing Him, and then all of a sudden completely fall face first and turn away from His goodness?

Well, sadly I can tell you how it happens.

Listen up, and be mindful my friends. It pains me to be able to share these lessons, but I sincerely hope it somehow serves as a lesson to some of you who may be going through something similar.

The truth is, when I would see people who were formerly strong in their faith who had fallen, I was only seeing the end result of much more.

A process.

Do not be deceived friends, the enemy is all around and wants us to stumble. The Bible says he looks for someone to devour.

It’s very true. The enemy was very patient with me, as I suspect he is with many believers.

It was years of slow erosion. Slowly chipping away in such tiny increments that I barely noticed. He’s crafty that way.

Oh friends, I allowed myself to step out from God’s umbrella of protection and became so vulnerable to deception.

How did it happen?

Let’s dissect.

1.Lack of Community

Moving to a Muslim country made it difficult to openly pursue a relationship with the Church.

Thankfully, someone we knew hosted a Bible study which allowed us the opportunity to meet with other Christians and fellowship and study the Bible.